Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Leon Schlesinger!

Born today in 1884: Leon Schlesinger, movie producer and founder of what became the Warner Bros. Cartoon Studio.

Also: Porky Pig's boss.



from the Porky Pig story in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies Comics (1941 series) #2 (Dell, November 1941), pencils and inks by Chase Craig
In a relationship that will surprise no one, Schlesinger was also nepotistically related to the actual Warner Bros.

Schlesinger was also probably personally responsible for locking the Warner Bros. (and Dot) up in the WB Water Tower.




from Comic Book History of Animation #2 and 3 (IDW, December 2020-January 2021); script by Fred Van Lente; pencils, inks, and letters by Ryan Dunlavey; colors by Ryan Dunlavey and Adam Guzowski
Leon Schlesinger starred as himself in Friz Freleng's Looney Tunes short "You Ought to Be in Pictures" (1940). No, Mel Blanc did not do his voice.


Looney Tunes "You Ought to Be in Pictures (excerpt) (Warner Bros./Vitaphone, May 18, 1940), directed by Friz Freleng

Happy birthday, Leon!

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1963: Happy birthday! Now, live with this fear for the rest of your life!

from Fantastic Four (2023 series) #1/694 (Marvel, January 2023), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Iban Coello, colors by Jesus Aburtov, letters by Joe Caramagna

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Gardner Fox!

Born today in 1911: prolific and important writer Gardner Fox!, co-creator of The Atom, Doctor Fate, the Golden Age Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, the JLA, Zatanna, and Snapper Carr (well, nobody's perfect).


from Fifty Who Made DC Great one-shot (DC, 1985)

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Glitter!

Born on this date in 1956: the New Universe's Glitter! Not to be confused with that Mariah Carey movie. Boy, I bet they make a lot of jokes to her about that.


from D.P. 7 #24 (Marvel/New Universe, October 1988), pencils by Paul Ryan
Happy birthday, Ms. Harrington! Play us off, Mariah!


"Last Night a DJ Saved My Life" by Mariah Carey feat. Busta Rhymes, Fabolous and DJ Clue (Sony, 2001), written by Michael Cleveland

Today in Comics History, May 20, 2022: Newspapers gang up to pick on Peggy Carter, who saved our butts in World War II, I hope you remember that

...well, except for the one that's dated May 2, but I think that's a typo.


from Captain Carter #4 (Marvel, September 2022), script by Jamie McKelvie, pencils and inks by Marika Cresta, colors by Matt Milla, letters by Clayton Cowles

Today in Comics History, May 20: Where ever you get 'em, those green suits'll drive you crazy

from Crime Does Not Pay #37 (Lev Gleason, January 1945), script by Dick Wood, pencils and inks by Alan Mandel

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy Birthday, Jane Wiedlin!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published May 20, 2012.

Born on this day: Singer/songwriter/subject of my affection Jane Wiedlin! Hi Jane!

Today in Comics History, May 20, 2016: War Wheel runs amok in Manhattan

from Yellow Cab (IDW, May 2022), by Christophe Chabouté, based on the novel by Benoît Cohen

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1763: Boswell and MacPherson find the Honeycomb Hideout

from "Excerpts from Boswell's London Journal 1762-1763" in Weirdo #3 (Last Gasp, Fall 1981), by Robert Crumb

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1498: Vasco da Gama claims India through the cunning use of flags

from "The Stories of John Cabot and Vasco da Gama" in All-American Comics #62 (DC, December 1944), script by Max Gaines and W. W. D. Sones, pencils and inks by Allen Simon

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1805: "Guess I'll have to stay here with all the nymphs!"

from Manifest Destiny #42 (Image, March 2020), script by Chris Dingess, pencils and inks by Matthew Roberts, colors by Owen Gieni, letters by Pat Brosseau

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1999: Okay, seriously now, stop sending me these creepy emails

from The Invisibles (1999 series) #8 (DC/Vertigo, August 1999), script by Grant Morrison, pencils by Sean Phillips, inks by Jay Stephens, colors by Daniel Vozzo, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1942: Oh geez, please let that be a rhetorical question

from Young All-Stars #12 (DC, May 1988), script by Roy Thomas and Dann Thomas, pencils by Howard Simpson, inks by Malcolm Jones III, colors by Gene D'Angelo, letters by Jean Simek

Today in Comics History, May 20, 3333: Disco Fever enters fourth funky day

from Bleed Them Dry #5 (Vault, November 2020), script by Eliot Rahal, art by Dike Ruan, colors by Miquel Muetro, letters by Anfdworld

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1775: The JLA claims North Carolina through the cunning use of flags

North Carolina variant cover of Justice League of America (2013 series) #1 (DC, April 2013), pencils and inks by David Finch
Déjà vu?

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1989: Charles L. Hurlburt has been given all the facts

from the Milk & Cheese story "Just the Facts, Maim" in Deadline USA (1991 series) #2 (Dark Horse, November 1991); script, pencils, inks, and letters by Evan Dorkin
But when will there be a test, hmmmmmmmm?

Today in Comics History, May 20, 1912: Mrs. Barlowe accidentally names her son "Shadow"

from the Boy Commandos story "The Fight of the Century!" in Detective Comics (1937 series) #147 (DC, May 1949), pencils by Carmine Infantino, inks by George Klein (?)

Today in Comics History, May 20: Commissioner Gordon begins to regret appearing on The Apprentice

from Batman #405 (DC, March 1987), script by Frank Miller, pencils and inks by David Mazzucchelli, colors by Richmond Lewis, letters by Todd Klein

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy Birthday, Jane Wiedlin!

"Rush Hour" by Jane Wiedlin (EMI-Manhattan, 1988), written by Jane Wiedlin and Peter Rafelson


"Blue Kiss" by Jane Wiedlin (I.R.S. Records, 1985), written by Jane Wiedlin and Randell Kirsch


"World on Fire" by Jane Wiedlin (EMI-Manhattan, 1990), written by Jane Wiedlin, Scott Cutler, Terry Hall, and Valerie Block


"Cool Places" by Sparks feat. Jane Wiedlin (Atlantic, 1983), written by Ron Mael and Russell Mael


"Inside a Dream" by Jane Wiedlin (EMI-Manhattan, 1988), written by Jane Wiedlin and Gardner Cole


"Vacation" by The Go-Go's (I.R.S., 1982), written by Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Jane Wiedlin


Jane Wiedlin as Trillya in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (Paramount, I.R.S., 1982), directed by Leonard Nimoy

"Euphoria" by Jane Wiedlin (EMI-Manhattan, 1990), written by Jane Wiedlin and Paul Gordon

Today in Comics History, May 20: Happy birthday, Jane Wiedlin!: 01001010011000010110111001100101

The "got mail" flag popped up on the ol' email box this morning here at Bully HQ with a missive from bull-booster Andy, zipping along some news that he thought I'd be interested in: Jane Wiedlin is creating and starring in her own new comic book, Lady Robotika, along with Bongo Comics creative director Bill Morrison.

I don't know when Lady Robotika is coming out, but I'm getting in line at my local comic book store right now.


Photo by Bonnie Burton at The Official Star Wars Blog
Two of my favorites: Jane Wiedlin and comic books. The only way this thing could be better would be if it were dipped in chocolate. Happy birthday, Jane...but apparently I get the present!